Native American naming traditions, vary greatly
from tribe to tribe and are frequently determined by nature, , animals,
character,etc. This is evident in the Miwok tribe’s custom of using water
names, often chosen by the way the stream flowed when a baby was born. The
Southwest Hopis have a mystic tradition of placing an ear of corn,
representing Mother Earth, close to a newborn baby. Twenty days after the
birth of a baby, corn is rubbed over it's body while the baby, held
to face the rising sun, is named when the first ray of sun hits it's
forehead.

The Navajos give great powers to their names. A Navajo name is deemed
so precious that it is only used during ceremonies, meaning a day-to-day
conversation in a Navajo family may go something like “Mother, go get
Son.” The Salish tribe follows a “naming trail” in which the name given to
a baby by his parents at birth (usually a virtue or trait the parents hope
for the baby) and is eventually replaced during adolescence with another
name which is given by the tribal leader at a ceremony called the Jump
Dances. This name normally signifies a gift or strength for which the
child is known. Similiarly, as an adult, another name might be
granted, but this name would reflect expectations or something for the
person to live up to

Traditionally without family names, the Sioux (Lakota, Nakota and Dakota)
have a complicated naming system with six classes of names: birth order,
honor , special deed, nicknames, secret and spirit names. The first name was
given based on the gender and birth position of the child, and a person
could have several names during his lifetime. Names were adapted to the
individual at the time they were given to them. For example, it is said that
Chief Sitting Bull was called “Jumping Badger” as a boy, but also nicknamed
“Slow” because he took extra time to do things. It is common practice
today to use kinship terms, such as uncle or grandfather, for people who are
not related to show respect.

Among the Cherokees,
many did not take a surname until around the time of the Civil War. If
they served during that war the army required two names and either "gave"
them an anglicized name or they picked one. In summary, Native American
naming customs cover a wide range of traditions and vary from Nation to
Nation and this holds true in modern times as well as in days gone by. If
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